Entries in Special Populations
(40)

Scoliosis is a chronic spinal condition, not particularly a disease. It’s a hot topic in the Pilates world, and in the hands of a skilled instructor, Pilates can excel in the long-term training needed to help change the many factors involved in the distorted spine and unbalanced musculature associated with scoliosis. In this article, I’ll introduce you to scoliosis and provide some guidelines and Pilates exercises for working with these clients.

Here at Pilates-Pro.com, we’re always on the lookout for the newest trend in the Pilates industry. Even though the economy has been sour lately, studios around the country are reporting a growing demand from pet-crazed clients for animal-adapted Pilates exercises for pets of all kinds, including Hubie, an American Short Hair Guinea Pig.

The postpartum time period is very exciting for most women, but it can be very stressful as well. Women are going through the process of healing their bodies after the birth, dealing with drastic hormonal changes, and adjusting to life with a newborn. Most women are physically exhausted and may have extreme emotional swings. Regaining their prepregnancy body is often a main concern.

In order to work with postpartum clients, Pilates instructors should have knowledge about the physical transformations of pregnancy and how they impact the musculoskeletal system.* It is common knowledge that the abdominal muscles stretch a great deal over the course of the pregnancy, and it is our challenge to help women restore the proper length, strength and tone of these extremely important muscles.

As Pilates instructors, we are seeing many more middle-aged women in our classes, and they are an energetic, dynamic group to say the least. Women today are much more active, informed and focused on their health and fitness than they were several decades ago. Many have been exercising for years and are not about to stop now that they are reaching their menopausal years.

The onset of menopause does, however, bring several changes to women’s lives, and from what I’ve found, they appreciate all the help they can get with navigating through it. It is interesting to look at some of the symptoms of menopause and how exercise can help alleviate some of them. It is even more interesting to look at the ways in which Pilates can help many of these symptoms.

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which kicked off last week, we’ve rounded up a great group of Pilates clothing items and products designed to help raise funds for breast cancer research, including this “Kick It” tee from Lucy. Ten percent of the $30 price will be donated to Breast Cancer Network of Strength.

See products from STOTT Pilates, Peak Pilates, Power Pilates, Zobha, Gaiam and more after the jump.

Hospital for Special Surgery in New YorkAs the U.S. population grows older, and as the medical community gains a greater understanding of the benefits of Pilates, more Pilates professionals may have the opportunity to work in clinical settings with special populations. I sat down with one such instructor, Steven Fetherhuff, and asked him to share his experiences as one of two Pilates instructors at the prestigious Hospital for Special Surgery’s Integrative Care Center in New York.

Q: How did you initially find out about the Pilates program at the Integrative Care Center?A: A colleague of mine, Sarah Faller, approached me about it. I used to work with Sarah at Alycea Ungaro’s studio. She’s the Pilates coordinator for the Integrative Health Care Center, and when she told me about it I was like, “That’s exactly what I want to do!”

Pilates training can be an excellent way to achieve the postural re-education and muscle-balancing necessary to recover from the side effects of breast cancer treatment. Pilates can help alleviate pain from breast cancer operative procedures, restore joint mobility and tissue integrity, and help regain lost strength. Most importantly, Pilates can be a gateway for a true “Return to Life” for many women, as the title of Joseph Pilates’ popular book states. However, Pilates instructors should be on the lookout for some often coincident injuries that will require additional special knowledge about the shoulder complex in order to work safely and effectively with the growing population of breast cancer survivors.

Pre- and postnatal fitness expert Debbi Goodman, MSPT, has assembled a great list of books and Websites where you can learn more about how exercise and Pilates relate to pregnancy. It was meant to accompany her article Pilates and Pregnancy: Safe Ab Exercises, but it’s such a great collection of resources, that we didn’t want it to get buried.

Click below to see her picks. If you’ve been wanting to learn more about maternal fitness for your clients or yourself, here’s a great place to start.

Pilates is a wonderful form of exercise for pregnant women. Through Pilates, women can stay strong and fit throughout their pregnancies. Pilates can help women stay connected to their changing body, improve posture and reduce pregnancy aches and pains. However, Pilates instructors working with this population need to be knowledgeable about the anatomical and physiological changes that occur during pregnancy, as well as about the birth process. In addition, it is extremely important that Pilates instructors have a clear understanding of how pregnancy affects the abdominal muscles.

Read on to learn what happens to the abdominal muscles during pregnancy and for a sample mat workout that will keep prenatal clients safe and strong.

Attention San Francisco Pilates instructors: In case you haven’t heard, a group of your colleagues is forming a new group called the Bay Area Pilates Collective with the goal of “bringing together Bay Area Pilates studio owners, professionals and aficionados to meet and brainstorm about our profession and vision for the future of the Pilates industry.” Special guests for the first meeting include Marie-Jose Blom, Nora St. John and Elizabeth Larkam, and discussions will entail shaping a voice for the Bay Area Pilates community, scope of practice and the line between employees versus independent contractors. All area instructors are invited; the event will be held at EHS Pilates Studio (1452 Valencia St.) on Aug. 9 at 5:30 p.m. RSVP: 415-285-5808.

More Pilates-Related News• Think you have a killer Teaser? If so, you can show off your form (and win an MVe Chair!) in Peak Pilates’ Teaser Photo Contest. The deadline is Sept. 1.